STOCKHOLM -- Swedish construction group Skanska AB on Thursday posted a 42% jump in pretax profit for 1999 with the most expansion in U.S., Swedish and Finnish construction markets.

Pretax profit was in line with expectations at 6.86 billion Swedish kronor compared with 4.83 billion kronor in 1998. Sales rose by 27%, to 79.13 billion kronor, while order bookings increased to 96.89 billion kronor from 77.38 billion kronor in 1998.